Hungwe in SA for contest

HARARE - Despite repeated warnings from his family and friends, local bodybuilder Victor Hungwe (pictured) travelled to South Africa to participate in tonight’s IFBB Africa tournament in Midrand, Johannesburg.

South Africa has been rocked by violent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals which prompted the government to deploy the national army in Durban and Alexandra.

At least seven people have died due to the violence while thousands have been displaced.

Zimbabwe footballers based in South Africa, Willard Katsande and Matthew Rusike, who were part of the championship winning Kaizer Chiefs squad on Wednesday night, told our sister publication the Weekend Post, they now fear for their lives due to the violence.

Hungwe’s loved ones earlier this week had warned the muscleman against travelling to Johannesburg but he has decided otherwise.

“It’s been one of the most difficult decisions of my life to be here (South Africa) at a time when all this is said to be going on,” Hungwe told the Daily News after arriving in South Africa on Thursday.

“I have hurt a number of people who mean a lot to me, but I will make sure that my efforts won’t go in vain.

“This is for all the Zimbabweans who have fallen victim to xenophobia and I will give it my best shot on stage because this is my dedication to them.

“I’m in good place and without doubt, my physique will do the talking on stage. I will be competing in the middle class.

“The difference with this federation from every other contest is that here you are categorised according to height not weight.”

This will be Hungwe’s first competition after over a year as he last went on stage when he won the Mr Universe contest in Naples, Italy in December 2013.

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